Calcium Pantothenate

The calcium salt of pantothenic acid, better known as vitamin B5. It is the more stable, dry form of the vitamin, which is why it appears in powders and anhydrous formulas where panthenol would be awkward to work with. In skincare it is used as a conditioning agent. It is more familiar in hair care, where it helps reduce static and improves how hair feels, but the same water-binding behaviour is useful on skin.

• Calcium pantothenate, also known as vitamin b5, is a form of pantothenic acid.

It is water-soluble and hygroscopic, so at the surface it behaves as a humectant — attracting and holding water, which means better surface hydration and a softer feel. In the body, pantothenic acid is a precursor to coenzyme A, which is central to fatty acid metabolism. That biochemistry is often quoted in marketing, but what happens when you apply it to the skin's surface is more modest and mostly about water binding. Related forms — panthenol in particular — have better evidence behind them for soothing and barrier support.